Jeff Hunter says he wants a second crack at Staal Foundation Open success

Jeff Hunter is seeking a little redemption at the Staal Foundation Open.

The Thunder Bay golfer is in the field for the second straight year and said on Wednesday he’s looking for a lot better finish than his 2014 debut, which saw him shoot an eight-over 80 in his opening round and just two shots better on Friday.

That left him 15 shots off the cut line, relegated to spectator status for weekend play.

He’s hoping for bigger and better things this time around when he tees off Thursday at 2 p.m., playing alongside former NHLer Marc Savard, who got an exemption into the event, and Maple Ridge, B.C.s’ Justin Shin, the first Canadian to win on the PGA Tour China circuit.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much and just go out there and play some golf,” said Hunter, after playing a practice round at Whitewater Golf Club, where the second-year event is set to launch into full swing.

“The game plan we kind of put forward is to kind of drown everything out and hit golf shots, make it simple.”

Last year was a learning experience for Hunter, who took time away from golf last fall, working for his father, only to get the itch – and the necessary cash – and spend four months last winter playing golf in Florida. 

“The one thing you learn is you’ve got to keep your golf ball in play to have a chance. I came out Saturday and Sunday and watched the rest of the guys. They’re not losing golf balls. You can’t take penalty shots,” said Hunter, who will have local golfer Albert Drake on his bag this week.

“Aside from that, you can shoot four birdies and a bogey and that’s 69 and four of those are going to make you a lot of money. You’ve just got to stay patient and you’ve got be good off the tee. Oh, and you’ve got to putt well.”

Hunter, the winner of the first local qualifier, won’t be alone, from a Thunder Bay standpoint, when play finally gets under way.

Robbie Untinen, who shot a 12-over 154 a year ago, Walter Keating, who led all locals with a nine-over 151 and first-timer Evan DeGrazia, a last-minute addition to the field, will also be competing for the title.

Hunter said he’s hoping for a slight home-course advantage and set up to his liking.

“I don’t have to change the lines that I’m hitting, like I did last year. So I have that little bit of an advantage of that going in. Aside from that I’ve put in a pretty good week. My game’s not quite where I want it to be, but it’s better than it was four days ago, so a couple more practice sessions and it should be good.”